About us
Mission moves – connects – opens
We are a fellowship of Protestant churches and mission societies on three continents. We are inspired and bound together by faith in Jesus Christ and set our hopes on the kingdom of God. Across borders we witness by our words and actions to God’s compassionate and transformative plan for our world. This happens in different ways at every place and in every country. We meet people different from ourselves in a spirit of openness and respect. Together we are committed to the right to life and, in particular, to the rights of those who are vulnerable, poor and excluded.
What characterises our Fellowship?
The 28 churches and mission societies of our Fellowship share a long history of witness to the Gospel. That has given rise to many close ties and friendships at the international level.
We practise “partnership on an equal footing” and offer mutual encouragement. From and with one another we learn how the gospel can be faithfully lived and passed on at different places.
We set ourselves common goals and plan, decide and act together – wherever we face similar challenges and depend on mutual solidarity and support.
We share our resources, gifts and abilities. We use them responsibly and are accountable to each other.
What do we do together?
In the following areas of action we work together, learn from each other and give mutual support:
- Passing on the gospel and building up congregations, conducting theological training, training church staff
- Providing educational opportunity for disadvantaged children, young people and women
- Supplying diaconal (social) services
- Accompanying and supporting the self-organisation of people living with HIV&AIDS
- Combating poverty at the grassroots in structured communities
- Promoting peace and reconciliation, justice, human rights and responsibility for creation
In joint missionary projects we confront the issues that challenge our witness, by means of:
- the EMS Focus “Giving account of our hope – Christian witness in a pluralistic world”
- educational programmes and outreach on the understanding of mission today
- solidarity drives for crisis relief and advocacy for peace and human rights
In intercultural exchange and encounter we link people up across borders, through
- advising and networking in direct partnerships
- employing ecumenical co-workers
- the Ecumenical Youth Volunteer Programme
- study programmes in Lebanon and Japan
We help fund programmes and projects under the responsibility of local churches and support capacity-building for leadership and management
Who is involved?
The EMS Secretariat in Stuttgart works on behalf of the EMS Fellowship as a competence centre for advice, networking and coordination, information and education, staff exchange, programme and project support, and joint action.
Others taking an active part in EMS work include coordinators for mission and ecumenism in the churches of the EMS Fellowship (both staffers and volunteers), partnership committees, ecumenical co-workers, international volunteers and students enrolled on our study programmes.
The youth, women’s and HIV&AIDS networks are made up of the respective coordinators in our churches.
People with an interest in mission and ecumenism take part in the activities of the EMS Focus, seminars, conferences, consultations, exposure visits and actions.
Regular donors and association members, friends and patrons, contributors to the foundation and appeal collectors – they all support the work of EMS and its member societies, the Basel Mission German Branch (BMDZ), German East Asia Mission (DOAM), Evangelical Society for the Schneller Schools (EVS) and the Mission Association of the Moravian Church in Germany (HMH).
What is our special mandate and who do we cooperate with?
The liberating power of the Gospel touches upon all dimensions of life. It is our special mandate to share such experiences across borders in the diversity of our Fellowship and to mutually encourage and support one another.
Special cooperation agreements exist with mission 21 and the United Evangelical Mission (UEM). We are a member of the Association of Churches and Missions in Germany (EMW). We are in close contact with other church missions and seek dialogue with independent mission agencies.
We cooperate and liaise with church development services and diaconal organisations, thus complementing each other in our respective callings. In so doing, we make available our specific experience and competence as a world mission fellowship.
